GLIMPSE OF CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF LOKTAK UNDERSTANDING NATURE FABRICATION Loktak lake plays an important role in the economy of . It serves as a source of water for hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. The lake is also a source of livelihood for the fisherman commonly LOKTAK who lives in the surrounding areas and on phumdis, also known as “Phumshangs”. Ø Loktak lake of Manipur is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast . It is famous for the floating biomass known as 'Phumdi' floating over it.

Ø The lake is located near in of Manipur.

Ø The name is derived from lok (stream) tak (end) where many rivers including Manipur river ( river) converges.

Ø Loktak lake is fed by seven major rivers viz. Nambul, Yengoi Chaoba, Yengoi Macha, Nambol,Thangjaorok, Ningthoukhong and Moirang river.

Ø Within the lake and on its periphery, there are 14 hills of varying size and elevation; in the southern part of the lake are the Sendra, Ithing and Thanga SANGAI islands. · Sangai or Brow antlered , which is also known as Manipur Dancing Deer, Ø Loktak lake is considered to be the 'lifeline for the people of Manipur' due to is one of the most threatened deer species in the world. It is listed as its importance in their socio-economic and cultural life and has been Endangered in IUCN Red List and Schedule I of the Wild Life recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar (Protection) Act, 1972. Convention on March 23, 1990. · Sangai is a medium sized deer. The size of a fully grown Sangai is about 110 cm to 125 cm height at the shoulder and Sangai hind is about 105 cm. The length of an adult ranges between 145 cm - 155 cm. The mature Sangai Stag weighs about 110 kg. PHUMDI · For a Sangai to walk on safely on Phumdi a minimum of 0.75 m thickness is required. Ø Phumdis are heterogeneous mass of soil, vegetation and organic matters in · Sangai was declared extinct in 1951 and then rediscovered in Keibul Lamjao different degrees of decay. It plays a very important role in the ecological processes and functions of the lake and supports the rich dynamics of the by Eldi Percy Gee. This led to a series of extensive conservation effort for its protection. lake.

· The first census of Sangai counted 14 heads in 1975. . Ø Thickness of the Phumdi varies in different parts of the lake. Matured Phumdi is about two meters thickness, one fifth of the thickness lie above · Now KLNP supports about 251 Sangai deer and almost an equal number of Hog deer as per 2018 census conducted by Forest Department, Manipur water and four fifths of the mat remain under water. Ø Phumdi as an association of more than 150 species of aquatic, semi- Ÿ aquatic, and even terrestrial vegetation. The name Sangai is believed to be coined due to its characteristic’s behaviour, particularly of males, to stop and look back as if he is waiting for someone even when running for its life.

Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) Ÿ Sangai is revered and much loved by the people of Manipur. It was declared as State in 1989. Ø The KLNP is an area of low laying swamps, located in the Southeastern part Ÿ Sangai, named “Ningthem” (meaning beloved son), was the mascot of the Fifth of the Lake, covering an area of 40.00 Sq. Km. National Game held at Imphal in 1999. Ø It was officially notified as a Sanctuary in 1966 and a decade later, on 1977, the KLNP was declared as full-fledged National Park under the provision of Sub-species of Rucervuseldii Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. According to IUCN there are three sub-species of Rucervuseldii in the world; 1. Rucervus eldii eldii in India (Manipur), Ø It is the only floating National Park in the world. It is ecologically and culturally 2. Rucervus eldii thamin, previously in Burma/Myanmar and the Malay Peninsula, important and hence, efforts are being made to include the park in the and UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. 3. Rucervus eldii siamensis, in Thailand, Annam, and Hainan island. FAUNAL DIVERSITY

Ø Loktak lake harbour a rich faunal diversity, and often described as the paradise of bird watchers.

Ø There are 57 species of water birds and another 14 species of wetland associated birds have been noted in the lake including 28 species of migratory birds. National Mission on Himalayan Studies Ø Also recorded were 425 species of —249 vertebrates and 176 invertebrates. The list includes rare animals such as the Indian python, Slow loris, and barking deer.

FLORAL DIVERSITY The lake’s rich in biological diversity comprises 233 species of aquatic macrophytes of emergent, submergent, free-floating and rooted floating leaf types.

The important vegetation of the Phumdis recorded includes · Phragmites karka(tou), is reported to be the dominant species. · Oryza sativa(rice), · (kambong), · Polygonum flaccidum (Yelang), · Arundo donax(Yenthou);

AQUA FAUNA

Richness of fish diversity in the Loktak lake has a direct implication on the existence of KeibulLamjao National Park as the park offer undisturbed spawning grounds. Hence, the park directly or indirectly supports the fishing communities in and around the Lake.

Developed by: Sponsored by: Nature Learning Centre (NLC) National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) Forest Department, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of Manipur Government of India. Contact us : NATURE LEARNING CENTRE, Forest Complex, Mantripukhri, Imphal - 795002, Manipur